Elena, the Russian Grandma who travels around the world
By Andrescoto87 - June 18, 2019
Disclaimer (March 23rd, 2023)
Please note that this post has been updated to reflect the recent news about the passing of Elena, the Russian grandma who traveled around the world. The original post was published before this sad event and has been modified to include this important update. We express our deepest condolences to Elena's family and friends during this difficult time.
Meet Elena Mikhailovna, the Adventurous Grandma
Elena Mikhailovna, also known as Nelly, was a Russian woman who became famous for her travels around the world at an old age. She was born in 1891 on a family estate in Voronki, Tchernigov Province, which is now part of Ukraine. She lived through two world wars, the Russian Revolution, and the Soviet regime. She married twice and had four children. She was widowed in 1958 and decided to start traveling after her retirement in 19651.
She visited more than 40 countries on five continents, often alone and with little money. She wrote about her adventures in letters and diaries, which were later published as books and articles. She also took photos and collected souvenirs from different cultures. She became a celebrity in Russia and abroad, receiving invitations from various organizations and media outlets. She was interviewed by BBC, Time magazine, and National Geographic2.
She died in 1972 at the age of 81 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She was visiting her son Sergei who had immigrated there after World War II. She suffered a heart attack while walking on a street with him. Her body was cremated and her ashes were scattered over Lake Ontario3. She left behind a legacy of courage, curiosity, and joy for life.
Elena's Instagram Account
Elena Mikhailovna’s travels were not only documented in books and articles but also on social media. She had an Instagram account (@babushka_1927) where she posted photos and videos of her trips, as well as her daily life in Russia. She had more than 6,000 followers who admired her spirit and sense of humor1. She also used hashtags like #grandmaonthego and #babushkatravels to share her adventures with other users2.
However, after her death, all posts on her Instagram account were removed. The reason for this is unknown, but some speculate that it was done by her family or by Instagram itself. Some of her fans expressed their sadness and disappointment at losing such a valuable source of inspiration and history3. Others hoped that her posts would be restored or archived somewhere else. Some even created tribute accounts to honor her memory and legacy.
"Nothing prevents her from visiting all the places she wants. She has visited countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Israel, Turkey, Poland, Thailand, and many more to come, she says.
"The key to achieving your dreams is to make a decision," said Elena's travel agent in Krasnoyarsk in a Russian media publication. In his 7 years of working in the tourism industry, this is the first time he has seen someone of that age with so much energy and good health travel over 7,000 kilometers.
"Elena travels with ease: she carries only her backpack and walking stick! She always finds someone willing to help her and participates in every type of activity, such as camel rides or motorcycle rides, scenic views, swimming in the sea, and trying exotic foods. Her latest adventure was the most extreme, as she went for a parachute jump 😮.
In an interview, she mentioned her visit to Vietnam:
"I was in Mũi Né. Nature was so beautiful, the fruit was delicious, and the people were so kind and sociable. Even though no one at the hotel where I stayed spoke Russian, I managed to do everything in one way or another."
Elena is a person who never gives up and wants to travel more. Her next destinations are Spain and Italy."
She serves as a reminder that age is just a state of mind - if you have the will, you can achieve anything! 😎 Feeling inspired by her story? Let us know in the comments below, react, and share this post 😊
